Organ Exhibition

Event Information

Venue(s):
St. John's Episcopal Church

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
18 October 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

18 May 1874, Afternoon

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Charles Edward Horsley;  Thomas [organ builder] Hall

Citations

1)
: Strong, George Templeton. New-York Historical Society. The Diaries of George Templeton Strong, 1863-1869: Musical Excerpts from the MSs, transcribed by Mary Simonson. ed. by Christopher Bruhn., 18 May 1874.

“Afternoon to St. John’s Chapel. Committee of Supplies & Repairs, & then a dozen of the vestry came in, & Horsley showed off the new organ for an hour. It does Erben great credit. Its vox humana stop is extraordinary—more amazing than agreeable, but an undeniable curiosity. It simulates most wonderfully the tones of some ancient Celtic crone maundering & crooning by a turf-fire, or of an exhibitor of Punch—or of an opera buffo singing his absurdist falsetto. Horsley’s playing was brilliant.”

2)
: Strong, George Templeton. New-York Historical Society. The Diaries of George Templeton Strong, 1863-1869: Musical Excerpts from the MSs, transcribed by Mary Simonson. ed. by Christopher Bruhn., 25 May 1875.

Died Thomas Hall—over 80—partner of Erben’s 30 years ago, & thereafter of Hall & Labagh. That firm came to grief when old Hall left it. Their work was bad & sham. Their organ at St. John’s went all to wreck a very few years after it was put up, & was sold last fall for its value as firewood & broken metal.